Teaching Philosophy
Goals of Teaching and Learning
Learning for me is all about providing students with the critical thinking tools needed: 1) to figure out how to assess information, 2) to make relevant and sound decisions, and ultimately, 3) to lead a successful life. Teaching students how to learn is the focus of my pedagogy. With various learning styles and abilities prevalent in the classroom, it is important that I provide an array of teaching techniques—auditory, visual, literary, kinesthetic—in my lesson plans to reach every type of learner. As a teacher, I also subscribe to Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. I am aware that learners of multiple intelligences need a variety of tools to enhance their instructional experience and I strive to acknowledge all of these intelligences in my pedagogy by providing a variety of assessment options throughout my course.
Passion for Latin and the Greco-Roman World
The study of the classical world provides, in my opinion, the perfect backdrop to engage with students on an academic level and to teach them how to learn in a myriad of ways. The study of Latin and the examination of cultures of the ancient Mediterranean offer something for everybody--language, literature, history, ancient science, art, archaeology, engineering, and also, sport--it's an incredibly interesting and diverse world. In terms of academic expertise in my content area, I have formally studied Latin at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels for a total of nine years and I completed a Master’s degree in Classics at San Francisco State University, focusing on Latin, Roman History, and Roman Archaeology in May 2012. My area of particular interest is the study of women in classical antiquity and I wrote my Master’s thesis on defining the qualities of effective female leaders in Roman Syria in the third-century C.E. Where appropriate, I strive to cover content and offer assessment topics for interested students that deal with women in the ancient Roman world and on ancient Greek.
Additional Teaching Areas—Social Science and German
In addition to teaching Latin, I also plan to add authorizations in Social Science and German to my preliminary credential. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in History with highest honors at UC Davis in 1996 and then a one-year Master’s degree in Modern History from St. Hilda’s College, University of Oxford in 1997. My strengths are World History and AP European History. I am also able to teach the first three levels of the German language curriculum as a result of having studied German at university and having lived in Germany between January 2010-June 2014.
Building Relationships with My Students
Building solid student-teacher relationships is key to a successful academic year and positive classroom environment. I believe my classroom is like a vibrant Roman mosaic. I view each student like an individual tile of that mosaic. To help my students to succeed in Latin, I focus on each one individually and try to discover and to learn what makes them shine. I approach this first, through a personal online survey distributed during the first week of class, and then I identify those fields in which students have some expertise (academic, social, athletic, etc.). I cherish that expertise, and help students share their talents in an open, respectful, and safe classroom environment within the context of Latin or History. Finally, to maintain respect for the mosaic of students’ experience in this vibrant learning environment, I communicate clear procedures and expectations of classroom management to my students from the very first week of instruction.